Apparatus for assembling particles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for assembling and inserting data-representing particles into a light permeable identification device, which apparatus comprises part of a system particularly adapted for hospital use, including primary and secondary identification devices, structure for the transfer of data from primary to secondary identification devices and an opto-electronic reader for communicating data from identification devices to data processing equipment.

UnitedStates Patent 11 1 Romney 1 Oct. 2, 1973 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING[56] References Cited PARTICLES UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventor: RussellH. y, a Lake y, 3,533,151 10 1970 Gaudry 29 201 Utah [73] Assignee:Blo-Logies, lnc., Salt Lake City, Primary Examiner-Thomas Eager U hAt!0rneyLynn G. Foster [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1 97] 57 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl.No.: 217,693

Apparatus for assembling and 1nsert1ng data- Related US. ApplicationData Division of Ser. No. 880,63l, Nov. 28, 1969, abandoned, and acontinuation of Ser. No. 781,387, Dec. 5, 1968, abandoned.

US. Cl 29/211 M Int. Cl B231 7/10 Field of Search 29/211 M, 2ll C,

29/203 MM, 201, 203 R, 2ll R representing particles into a lightpermeable identification device, which apparatus comprises part of asystem particularly adapted for hospital use, including primary andsecondary identification devices, structure for the transfer of datafrom primary to secondary identification devices and an opto-electronicreader for communicating data from identification devices to dataprocessing equipment.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEBUCI '21915 SHEET 1 nr 3 EMFDQZOUZELQWOI oam; ZE

itamoz n {Ill MUSE APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING PARTICLES This applicationis a division of my copending application Ser. No. 880,631, filed Nov.28, 1969, now abandoned as a continuation of my earlier filed UnitedStates Patent application Ser. No. 781,387, filed Dec. 5, 1968, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates generallyto highly reliable data systems and more particularly to novel methodsand apparatus for encoding a master identification device to be affixedto a primary entity for identification purposes, for error-free transferof data from the master identification device to one or more subservientidentification devices at least some of which may be respectively unitedwith a subordinate entity bearing a known relationship to the primaryentity, and for reading and decoding data from identification devices.

2. Prior Art There has been urgent need for a recording identificationsystem for use in transferring coded data from one record member toanother by simple operations to avoid human errors. For example, therehas been a need for accurately encoding, transcribing or transferringidentification data from onerecord element to another in hospitals andother health care organizations as well as in non-medical fields. Incurrent medical practice, patients in hospitals and clinics are commonlyidentified by applying to their wrists or ankles a band or strip whichbears the patients name and other necessary identifying data.Transferring such data to a secondary record without possibility oferror has presented serious problems. For example, when samples of bloodor other body fluids are taken from the patient, the identifying datafor the patient must be applied to the sample. According to prior artpractice, this data has been copied manually onto the sample containerand mistakes are always possible and occur fairly frequently. If thesample so taken is later subdivided, as is common practice forsupplemental blood analyses, the sub-samples likewise must be identifiedby manually copying the data onto them or onto suitable tags attached tothe containers. The same type of problems exist with respect to properhospital correlation or reference between the patient. and his or hermedication, diet, etc. The transfer of such data from patient tospecimen and/or from specimens to sub-specimens etc. not only requiresconsiderable time on the part of hospital attendants, nurses and thelike but also involves the possibility of mistakes which sometimes canbe very serious. Moreover, there is a critical shortage of suchpersonnel and their time is urgently needed for other matters.

rors in other kinds of record transfer can be critically ventional bloodtests frequently require centrifuging the blood samples, therebyobtaining sera which also must be properly identified and correlatedwith the sampled patient. The present invention is provided to satisfythe above-indicated needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Novel data systems,comprising methods and apparatus, are provided for accommodating (a)facile association of information representations with a primaryidentification device, (b) irreversible uniting of a primary or masteridentification device with a principal entity, (0) machine transfer ofdata from a principal to one or more subservient identification deviceswithout transcription error, some subservient identification devicesbeing adapted to be respectively associated with a subordinate entity,and (d) accurate correlation of related identification devices and thesubjects or objects with which they are physically associated, (e)subsequent association of additional information representations with aninformation-bearing identification device, and (f) use of theinformation from indiciabearing identification devices. In health careapplications, the principal entity may be a patient and subordinateentities may be specimen tubes, prescriptions containers, dietinstructions, accounting statements, etc. The present invention isadapted for easy use in conjunction with a computer or other dataprocessing equipment.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel data systemwherein the manual copying of information or indicia is eliminated orreduced so that original and transcribed records are equally accurate.

It is another important object to provide an improved identificationsystem for accurate correlation or reference between related entities,including subjects and objects, or between an identification device andan entity.

Another paramount object is the provision of novel equipment forpreparing master and slave identification devices with provision foradding supplemental information at any desired stage.

Another significant object is the provision of equipment whichfacilitates improved creation, transcription, augmentation, correlationand tabulation of information having to do with identification devicesphysically associated with related subjects or objects.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a noveldata system for producing accurate medical records, while at the sametime freeing medical and clerical personnel for other tasks.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel encodingstructure.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing asequence of steps and procedures and illustrating the diverse elementsof the present invention which may be used in a typical hospital orother environment during a series of procedures, e.g. operations andtests on a particular patient;

FIG. 2 shows a data recording device for carrying out the initial orprimary identification step, i.e. the encoding of a primaryidentification device which may be a planar blank;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, illustrating how the operating equipment ofFIG. 2 may be made mobile by removing it from its support or stand andused for manual recording operations a other locations;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a coding disc which carries pins forinserting small data recording pellets or balls into selected openingsof a primary identification device, to incorporate the desired coderepresentations therein;

FIG. 5 is a front edge view of the disc of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the ball loadingarea of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the same device at the balltransfer station;

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the ball coding device at FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary left side view of the rack indexing mechanismseen in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, partly in section, of adetent assembly in the device of FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 11;

FIG. 11 is a side view, partly in section, of the ball insertingoperating mechanism of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS The Overall SystemReferring first to FIG. 1, the invention will be described primarily inconnection with one of its presently preferred uses or purposes, namelythe control of records in hospitals. It will be understood of course,that the uses of the invention are by no means limited to hospitals oreven to medical treatments but this is one of many important andpractical purposes. The invention is equally usable for identifying andrecording various kinds of sequential and multiple records, particularlywherever controlling or primary-data on records are to be transferred infull or in part onto secondary records which, per se, may also containother or supplemental data.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hospital will keep on hand supplies of varioussorts, including for present purposes tiny pellets or spheres llpackaged in a container 12, the upper portion 13 of said container beingin the form of an inverted funnel where item 14 is partially cut awayfor purposes to be described hereinafter. A removable cap 15 is shown assnugly fitted to the item 14.

Also included in the hospital supplies will be (I) a stock of encodableor encoded primary data tags 16, referred to hereinafter as primaryplates, each of which may be equipped with an endless cord loop 17 toprevent loss and facilitate handling, (2) a supply of wristbands 18illustrated as tubular in configuration which may either carry or beassociated with a sleeve or pouch 19 adapted to hold a primary plate 16when inactive, (3) a supply of paper or paper-like strips 20 on whichmay be typed a patients name, social security number, etc. in humanreadable form.

Still other items to be included in the hospital supplies are diversesecondary data, referred to hereinafter as secondary plates, althoughconfigurations other than planar could be resorted to, two examples ofsuch being indicated at 21 and 22 in FIG. 1.

A primary plate encoding device 23 is preferably set up in a hospitaladmitting office or at a receiving depot to which supplies and the likeare delivered in nonmedical environments. Device 23 is loaded with balls11 from and by a container or storage reservoir 12. As part of thepatient admitting or inventory, etc., identifying procedure, a primaryplate 16, preferably with its loop 17 attached to a primary entity, e.g.a patient or an inventory item in a permanent fashion so that removalrequires destruction of the attachment structure, is placed in theencoding device 23, whereupon an assigned patient identification numberand possibly other data distinctive of the particular patient or objectare encoded into the primary plate 16. Preferably simultaneous with thisencoding of the primary plate 16, a strip 20 receives the same and/orother data in human readable form by use of a typewriter 24 which isalso preferably located in the hospital admitting office orinventory-receiving depot.

Attention is here called to the fact that although the encoding device23 and the typewriter 24 are shown as separate items in FIG. I, theencoding device 23 illustrated being manually powered and the typewriter24 being either manually or electrically powered, the present inventionadmits of diverse other embodiments wherein the encoding device 23 andthe typewriter 24 are combined to form a single machine which iselectrically or otherwise powered and which either at different times orsimultaneously performs the function of the encoding device 23 and thefunction of the typewriter 24, both such functions being controlled by asingle human operator using a single keyboard, said keyboard beingeither remote from or near said single machine and incorporating any ofdiverse code display sub-systems. Also noted is the fact that thepresent invention admits of diverse embodiments in which primary plates16, secondary plates 21 and/or 22, as well as the wristband 18 and/orits strip 20 may bear any of diverse other and/or additional codesymbols such as color, texture, or by letters, numerals or the likebeing stamped or otherwise added thereto, in any of a wide variety ofpossible combinations. Also falling within the scope of the presentinvention are diverse embodiments wherein the means for adding theabovementioned other and/or additional code symbols are associated withand/or integral with the said single machine described above.

After receiving its data, by use of the typewriter 24, the strip 20 isremoved therefrom and inserted into the tubular wristband 18, before,after or while the encoded primary plate is removed from the encodingdevice 23. The encoded primary plate 16 with its attached loop 17 plusthe wristband 18 containing its data bearing strip 20 are theninterlinked such that the band 18 passes through the loop 17. Thewristband 18, carrying the encoded primary plate 16 as well as its strip20, is next attached to the patients wrist where it remains during theentire hospital confinement of said patient or until it is purposelysevered by scissors, knife or the like; whereupon the primary plate 16is either l saved by the hospital for future reference and/or possiblereuse by the same patient at a later time or (2) presented to saidpatient for safekeeping in the event of possible re-usc by him in somefuture possible re-confinement or (3) discarded. In any event, thewristband 18 and its strip 20 are usually discarded upon cutting thewristband.

Referring still to FIG. 1, the encoding device 23 of the illustratedembodiment comprises a portable or mobile encoding unit 25 removablymounted in an encoder adapter 26 which in turn is supported by a deskstand 27, the adapter 26 being removable from its stand 27 and mountableby screws or the like (not shown) to a wall or to a shelf, etc., in lieuof being attached to the desk stand 27 as shown.

The removability of the portable encoding unit 25 from its adapter 26(by methods described hereinafter) provides the present invention withone of its chief advantages, that advantage being the capability ofencoding and/or adding additional code to the primary plate 16 while theprimary plate is attached to the patient in the hospital ward, asillustrated in FIG. 1. However, the admitting encoder need not be thesame one used for additional encoding nor is it required that theycorrespond in structure and operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, and more fully described hereinafter, thepresent invention includes a solid state optoelectronic reader 28connected or con nectable to a computer 29 via an associatedopto-electric subsystem or interface device 30, the reader 28 being ableto read the coded data stored in a patients primary plate 16 andcommunicate same to the computer 29 which is programmed to receive,store and use such data as may be required in the diagnosis and/ortreatment of the patients condition.

The reader 28 also enables diverse reader-controlled devices 31 to beeffected or controlled in various ways by the ball-encoded data of theprimary plate 16; such effecting or controlling being accomplished (1)via the opto-electronic sub-system 30 and (2), in some cases, with theaid of the computer 29. A few examples of the great variety suchreader-controlled devices 31 are (I) secondary plate encoding devices,(2) card punch devices, (3) data readout printers, (4) visual datareadout devices, etc.

In lieu of the above-mentioned secondary plate encoding device which isreader 31 controlled and power driven, a manually operated datatransferring device 32 may be used; the details of the device 32 formingno part of the present invention, having been described and claimed in aseparate United States application, Ser. No. 772,622,.filed Nov. 1,1968, by Russell H. Romney and Billy M. Jensen, now abandoned.

The present invention includes diverse primary or master identificationdevices as well as diverse referenced slave or subservientidentification devices, two examples of the latter being indicated as 21and 22 in FIG. 1. The secondary plate 21 is adapted for attachment to areceptacle such as a test tube 33 containing fluids and/or tissuespecimens from a particular patient. Now, assuming that a data-bearingprimary plate 16 has been produced and anchored to said patient in themanner hereinabove described, the primary plate 16 is inserted into thedata transferring device 32 along with said secondary plate 21 attachedto said test tube 33. Next, the data transferring device 32 is manuallyoperated in the manner described in the above-cited copending UnitedStates Application, thereby transferring the ball coded data of theprimary plate 16 to its hole coded equivalent pattern in the secondaryplate 21. The primary plate 16 is next withdrawn from the datatransferring device 32.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the field of the presentinvention that data from other primary plates 16 such as'might becarried by a nurse, etc., can be transferred in like manner to analready partially coded secondary plate 21 (and/or 22, etc.) thusentering such information as the time and by whom the specimen wastaken, etc.

The secondary plate 21 and its test tube 33 are next withdrawn and sentas a unit to the hospital laboratory where the specimen is analyzed byor in connection with equipment which also reads the identifying data inthe secondary plate 21 and properly correlates the patient through thisdata with analyses results.

The secondary plate 22 is designed for storage and rapid retrieval of apatients medical history, explained more fully hereinafter, and receivesprimary plate data in the same manner as described above for thetubeclamping secondary plate 21.

Whenever the patients primary plate 16 is not in active use such asreceiving or communicating coded data, it may be tucked loop end firstinto the pouch 19 of the patients wristband 18, thus pulling virtuallyall of the loop 17 into the pouch 19; thereby adding to the patientscomfort and convenience by storing his primary plate 16 and its loop 17entirely out of the way, in neat wristwatch like fashion.

The general scheme represented in FIG. 1 is typical and is highlysuitable for the specific purposes described above. However, some of thesteps may be altered, exchanged in sequence, or omitted for somepurposes. This will appear more clearly after a detailed description ofthe various elements, mechanisms and subassemblies which constitute thephysical aspects of the invention.

A Primary Plate Encoder The method and means by which primary plates 16are encoded will next be described, with reference to FIGS. 2 through11. A code disk 59, FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11 is rotatably mounted on astud 60 which is immovably secured in an upper handle member 61 by ashoulder screw 62. Integral with the stud 60 is a head portion 63 towhich is securely affixed a pan 64 having a raised circumferential edge65 and an elongated slot 66. The code disk 59, FIG. 11 being rotatablymounted on the stud 60, is limited in upward travel by said upper handlemember 61 and is limited in downward travel by the edge 65 of pan 64,but is free to rotate therebetween, provided that certain otheryet-to-be-described members are in proper position.

A cover plate 67, FIGS. 8 and 11, is affixed to the upper handle member61. A through-hole 68, FIG. 1 l, in upper handle member 61 carries aslidable detent 69 whose bottom end 70 is tapered and rounded, thedetent 69 being urged downward by a spring 71 interposed between thecover plate 67 and the detent 69.

The code disk 59 carries a plurality of regularly spaced detent engagingsockets 72 near the periphery of its top surface, each socket 72 havinga sloping bottom 73 and one relatively abrupt edge 74 so that the disk59, FIGS. 4 and 8, can be manually rotated in a clockwise direction, butis prevented from being rotated counterclockwise due to the bottom end70 of the detent 69 coming in contact with the abrupt edge 74 of one ofthe sockets 72.

The code disk 59, FIG. 4, has a plurality of ballreceiving holes 75therethrough, the top edge 76 of each hole 75 being chamfered. Around-bottom trench 77 extends for a short distance in a clockwisedirection from each hole 75, along an imaginary arc (not shown) whosecenter is at the center of the stud hole 78. The diameter of the holes75 and the radius of the trenches 77 are somewhat larger than thediameter and radius, respectively, of the balls 11.

Each of the ball-receiving holes 75, FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, loosely carries aball-inserting pin 79 made of magnetizable steel, each pin 79 having anenlarged bottom head 80 which (1) prevents the pin 79 from being lostupwardly through its loosely fitting hole 75, and (2) prevents the pin79 from falling into or snagging on the elongated slot 66 of the pan 64.

The upper handle member 61 has a ball-storage cavity 81 therethrough,which is covered by a transparent plastic window 82; the window 82 beingcaptured beneath the cover plate 67 which in turn-has a viewing hole 83overlying the window 82. A thin cover disk 84, FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 11, isattached by screws (not shown) to the bottom of upper handle member 61.The code disk 59 is provided with a circular recessed area 85 whichloosely fits the cover disk 84. The cover disk 84 has therethrough arelatively large hole 86 and a relatively small hole 87, the shape andlocation of each of these two holes being indicated by dotted outline inFIG. 4.

The cover plate 67 is provided with a hole 88, FIG. 8, which overlies asomewhat larger hole 89 which in turn loosely retains a cylindrical trapdoor 90 which is spring loaded and which, therefore, normally occludesthe hole 88. By placing a pencil or similar probe device in the hole 88,the trap door 90 can be depressed and held against the action of itsspring, thus permitting a supply of balls 11 to enter the ball-storagecavity 81 via the hole 88 and an intervening channel 91. The cover plate67 has a depression 92 which acts somewhat like a funnel and therebyfacilitates the loading of balls into the ball storage cavity 81.

As an alternate to the above-described method for loading a supply ofballs 11 into the portable encoding unit 25, the cap 15, FIG. 1, isremoved from the ball container 12. The encoding unit 25 is theninverted above the container 12 and is then pressed downward thereon sothat the containers item 14 depresses the trap door 90. Now, whileholding the encoding unit 25 and the container 12 in forceable contact,both are inverted, permitting balls 11 to flow into the ball storagecavity 81 via the channel 91.

A ball-inserting blade 93, FIGS. 7 and 1 1, is pivotally mounted to theupper handle member 61 at 94. A lower handle member 95 is pivotallyattached to the blade 93 at 96. A toggle link member 97 is pivotallymounted to the upper handle member 61 at 98 and to the lower handlemember 95 at 99, the toggle link 97 having an arcuate extension 100which carries an arcuate slot 101 which engages a fixed pin 102, the pin102 being firmly mounted in the upper handle member 61. Cavities 103 and104 in upper handle member 61 accommodate the extension 100 and asurrounding spring 105, respectively, the spring bearing against anannular plastic wear shoe 106 and thence against the lower handle member95.

When the handle member 61 and are manually or otherwise squeezedtogether, a relatively high toggle force is applied to the blade 93 atthe pivot 94, causing the front end 107 of blade 93 to move upwardthrough the slot 66 in the pan 64 with considerable forcegenerating'capability.

The portable encoding unit 25 is designed so that its code disk 59, whenengaging its detent 70, places one of its fifteen groups of radiallyaligned holes 75 beneath the slot 87 of the thin disk 84, FIGS. 4 and 7.

Now, assuming that the ball storage cavity 81 has been sufficientlyfilled with balls 11, each of the holes 75 in the code disk 59 can bemade to receive a ball 11 from the ball storage cavity 81 by the act ofmanually rotating the disk 59 a time or two. This loading of the holes75 is best understood with reference to FIG. 18, wherein it is apparentthat as the disk 59 is made to rotate past the ball storage cavity 81 inthe direction indicated, the balls 11 are strongly urged to fall intothe holes 75 by a combination of (l) the reaction of the exit wall 108against them, (2) the channeling effect of the trenches 77 on the balls11 and (3) the ballagitating effect of the chamfers 76.

A pair of annular permanent magnets 109 and 110, FIGS. 2 and 11, aresecured to the blade 93 by means of a non-magnetizable rivet 111, theblade 93 being magnetizable. By arranging these magnets so that likepoles face each other some of the magnetic flux therefrom is deflectedupward through the front end 107 of the blade 93 and thence through anyoverlying pins 79 and through any balls 11 on top of said pins 79; saidflux thereby (l) urging the pins 79 resting on the blade 93 to retractwith the front end 107 of the blade when it retracts and (2) tending toprevent inadvertent loss of balls 11 from the hole 87 during times whenthe encoder unit 25 does not contain a primary plate 16.

FIG. 7 illustrates the manner in which the front end 107 of the blade 93pushes upward one of its fifteen groups of radially aligned pins 79,thereby forcing their balls 1 1 into the overlying sockets 34 of aprimary plate 16.

The method and means by which the portable encoding unit 25 receives andhandles the primary plate 16 will now be described, reference being madeto FIGS. 8 through 11. The upper handle member 61 has a T- slot 112transversely therethrough which loosely retains a primary plate holder113, the underside of said holder having therein a left and a righthandprimary plate cavity, denoted by 114 and 115, respectively; the rightcavity 115 being contoured to match the beveled corner 50 (FIG. 1) ofthe primary plate 16 only when said primary plate is therein retainedwith its rear surface facing downward. Similarly, the left cavity 114matches the beveled corner 50 of primary plate 16 only when said primaryplate is therein retained with its front surface facing downward.

To enable the encoding unit to accept in error-proof fashion, primaryplates with holes therethrough instead of sockets, each of cavities 114and 115 also carries a protuberance such as the screw head shown at 116(FIGv 9) which also properly engages the hole 51 in the primary plate 16of FIG. 1.

Attached to or made part of the top of primary plate holder 113 is apair of racks 117 and a zig-zag groove 118, the groove 118 beingsomewhat deeper at each point where it changes direction. A pair ofspacedapart holes 119, FIGS. 8 and 10, each carries its own detentplunger 120 which in turn forces a ball 121 into detenting engagementwith the zig-zag groove 118 by means of a spring 122 which bears upwardagainst the cover plate 67 and downward against the plunger 120. Theheight of the plunger 120 is such that it jams upward against the coverplate 67 when the holder 113 reaches either extremity of its lateraltravel, thus preventing inadvertent disengagement of the holder 113.

The racks 117 engage a rotatably mounted pinion 123 to which is secureda knob 124 adapted for manual rotation.

In light of the foregoing paragraphs, it will now be understood thatmanual rotation of the knob 124 causes the holder 113 to translate inzig-zag fashion from left to right and vice versa, as viewed in FIG. 9.

A window 125 in the front of upper handle member 61 individually framesthe alphabetic letters 126 as the holder 113 is caused to translate, theA designated row of four ball-receiving sockets 34 of primary plate 16overlying the particular hole 75 (or holes 75) which are capable ofencoding into the primary plate 16 the particular numerical valuedisplayed on the edge of the code disk 59 immediately below the window125, and so forth. For example, to encode the value of 3 into the H row"of a primary plate 16, the knob 124 would first be rotated clockwise toits limit, thus uncovering the lefthand cavity 114 and enabling theprimary plate to be manually placed and held therein; whereupon, theknob 124 would be rotated counterclockwise until the letter B appearedin the window 125. Next, the disk 59 would be manually rotated through arevolution or two (to insure that the value of3 has gone through theball storage cavity 81 and is therefore loaded with balls 16) andstopped with its edge-carried numeral 3" showing immediately below thewindow 125. Now by manually or otherwise squeezing together the handles61 and 95 of the encoding unit 25, the ball code equivalent of 3 isforced into the H row of the primary plate 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the encoder adapter 26 and its deskstand 27 will be described. The adapter is essentially an enclosure foradapting the otherwise portable encoder unit 25 as required for desk,wall or shelf mounting.

A lever 127 is pivotally mounted at 128, said lever having any ofdiverse types of spring (not shown) associated therewith by means ofwhich the lever 127 is normally urged to its upper or full-lineposition, FIG. 2. The adapter 26 carries a simple spring loaded latch129, pivotally mounted at 130. A block 131 of resilient material issecured to the rearmost inner wall of the adapter 26. A hardened pin 132is press-fitted into the lower handle 95, FIG. 11; said pin bridging adownwardly-diverging trench or fork 133. The adapter 26, FIG. 2, isprovided with a pair of mutually spaced grooves 134 for slidablyengaging extended lateral edges 135 of the cover plate 67.

Now, in light of the foregoing paragraphs and by reference to FIG. 2,the manner and means by which the portable encoder unit 25 is secured inits adapter 26 is readily understood, i.e. it is secured againstexcessive lateral or vertical dislocation by the grooves 134 and issecured against excessive axial dislocation by the latch I29 and by theresilient block 131. When so secured, the lever 127 loosely engages thefork 133 and bears against the pin 132 in the lower handle member 95.The lever 127 carries a handle 136 which, when manually depressed to itsdotted outline position against the action of its spring (not shown) andthe encoders spring 105, forces the lower handle 95 upward, therebyoperating the encoder unit 25 in the manner already described. Removalor insertion of the encoder 25 is accomplished by merely lifting thelatch 129, FIG. 3, and sliding saidrencoder out of orinto, respectively,the

adapter 26.

Four tapped holes (not shown) in the bottom of the adapter 26 normallyengage screws (not shown) indicated at 137, by means of which theadapter 26 is normally attached to its desk stand 27. A duplicate set oftapped holes 138 is carried by the rear wall of the adapter 26. Thus,means are provided for removing the adapter from its desk stand 27 andattaching it to either a horizontal or vertical surface, such as to ashelf or to the wall of a room, respectively.

It will be understood that various substitutions may be made for theseveral major components of the equipment described, without departingfrom the spirit and purpose of this invention. For example, particlesother than small balls or spheres can be used to form the code on theprimary plate. The data so recorded can be transferred to secondaryrecord element by electronic or photographic means, if desired. For theprimary purposes of the present invention, however, it is desirable tokeep the equipment simple and suitable for manual operation; hence thestructure shown for making the initial record on the primary plate ispreferred. So, likewise, where manual data transfer is desirable, themechanical punch equipment is preferred. It has been pointed out abovethat although optical reading is preferred, this is not always necessaryand mechanical, magnetic, electrical or electronic reading devices maybe substituted, at least for some applications. In any case, care shouldbe taken at each recording, transfer or reading operation, to makecertain that the record bearing member and/or the record receivingmember is not and cannot be inserted wrongly, thereby to prevent anypossible errors. The reading device should be so designed that (1)erroneous insertion of the record is impossible and (2) no incomplete orpartial reading can take place. For this reason it is preferable thatthe reading device be so designed that no reading can take place untilthe tab is fully inserted. However, by designing the reader so that oncea record element starts into it, it cannot be withdrawn until fullyinserted and fully read, the same purpose can be accomplished. Thereason that the procedure described in detail above is preferred is thatit is simpler and less likely to be misused.

All the above modifications, and any others which would suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art are considered to be within thespirit and purpose of the invention and it is intended by the claimsthat follow to cover all obvious variations and modifications as broadlyas the state-of-the-art properly permits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for inserting data-representing particles into selectedones of an array of particle-receiving pockets in a light-permeableidentification device which comprises, in combination, means forpositioning said device in a data-receiving path, means for indexingsaid device along said path, selective means for sequentially presentingsaid particles for insertion in 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 whichincludes manually operable lever and toggle means for multiplying forceand firmly inserting said particles in said pockets.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 which is adapted to insertmagnetically permeable particles in the device, and including magnetmeans associated with the insertion mechanism for holding said particlesagainst misplacement prior to insertion.

1. Apparatus for inserting data-representing particles into selectedones of an array of particle-receiving pockets in a light-permeableidentification device which comprises, in combination, means forpositioning said device in a datareceiving path, means for indexing saiddevice along said path, selective means for sequentially presenting saidparticles for insertion in said device at an insertion position; saidpresenting means comprising particle carrying recesses arranged togather particles in predetermined number and arrangement forrepresenting the selected data, particle-inserting punch elements insaid presenting means for each particle so gathered, and means at saidinsertion position and aligned with said data receiving path forforcibly operating all punch elements in said insertion position toinsert all the particles at said position into all the selected particlereceiving pockets of the device which are in said position.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 which includes manually operable lever and togglemeans for multiplying force and firmly inserting said partiCles in saidpockets.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 which is adapted to insertmagnetically permeable particles in the device, and including magnetmeans associated with the insertion mechanism for holding said particlesagainst misplacement prior to insertion.